Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 63
Devanagari script
द्वौ भवंतावहं चैकश्चलौ जयपराजयौ । स्थानार्थं युध्यतः सत्त्वात्स्वर्गो वा दुर्गमेव वा
Transliteration
dvau bhavaṃtāvahaṃ caikaścalau jayaparājayau | sthānārthaṃ yudhyataḥ sattvātsvargo vā durgameva vā
Translation
“युवां द्वौ, अहं चैकः; जयपराजयौ चञ्चलौ। स्थानार्थं सत्त्वेन युध्यतः स्वर्गो वा, दुर्गम एव वा भवेत्।”
Word by Word
द्वौtwo
द्वौ:
Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootद्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन; संख्यावाचक
भवन्तौyou two
भवन्तौ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootभवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; आदरार्थ)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन; ‘you two’ (honorific)
अहम्I
अहम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formप्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction ‘and’)
एकःone
एकः:
Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootएक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक
चलौvariable, uncertain
चलौ:
Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootचल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन; ‘unstable/variable’
जयपराजयौvictory and defeat
जयपराजयौ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootजय + पराजय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (victory and defeat)
स्थानार्थम्for the sake of a place/position
स्थानार्थम्:
Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
TypeNoun
Rootस्थान + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक (for the sake of a place/position)
युध्यतःof the two fighting
युध्यतः:
Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeVerb
Rootयुध् (धातु)
Formशतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), षष्ठी (6th case), द्विवचन; ‘of the two who are fighting’
सत्त्वात्due to courage/strength of spirit
सत्त्वात्:
Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
TypeNoun
Rootसत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (ablative of cause)
स्वर्गःheaven
स्वर्गः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootस्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन
वाor
वा:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formविकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)
दुर्गम्a fort/stronghold
दुर्गम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootदुर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन
एवindeed
एव:
Niyamaka (Emphasis/अवधारण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle ‘indeed/only’)
वाor
वा:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formविकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)
Speaker
Śyena (hawk)
Tirtha Mahatmya
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Visual Art Cues
Scene: A tense standoff: one hawk facing two birds; the composition conveys shifting fortune—perhaps a fluttering banner or swirling wind—while the ‘gate/stronghold’ looms nearby.
Characters & Entities
Ś
Śyena (hawk)P
Pārāvata couple (implied)S
Svarga (heaven)FAQs
One should act with courage despite uncertain outcomes; dharma is measured by inner strength, not guaranteed victory.
No specific tirtha is named in this verse.
None; the verse discusses ethical action (valor in struggle) rather than ritual.